Outpouring of grief from friends

Canada's Prime Minister joins community and political leaders in remembering Dan

Paul Martin
Prime Minister of Canada

It is with sadness that I learned of the passing of Daniel Andrew Iannuzzi, a giant in the field of Canadian media.
Mr. Iannuzzi was the founder of the world's first multilingual television station. He was also a founder of the Ethnic Press Association of Ontario and of Canada's foremost Italian language newspaper, Corriere Canadese. As President and Chief Executive Officer of Multimedia Nova Corporation, he was a pioneer in multicultural communications and a significant contributor to Toronto's Italian community.
Mr. Iannuzzi's courage and vision allowed this third-generation immigrant to lead millions of Canadians in the celebration of their cultural heritage through the founding of a distinct media outlet for their voices. He was the embodiment of Canadian multiculturalism.
On behalf of all Canadians, I extend my deepest sympathies to his family.


Dalton McGuinty
Premier of Ontario

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Daniel Andrea Iannuzzi. He was a man of courage and vision, and he led millions of Canadians in the celebration of their cultural heritage.
Mr. Iannuzzi embodied the motto of Corriere Canadese: "Fiercely Canadian and proudly Italian."
Mr. Iannuzzi was greatly respected by Toronto's Italian community and helped shape multiculturalism as we know it. He gave voice to Canadians of every cultural heritage when he launched CFMT-TV - the world's first multilingual television station. He was founder of the Ethnic Press Association of Ontario and of Canada's leading Italian-language newspaper.
On behalf of all Ontarians, I want to express my sympathy to his family. Our thoughts are with them.
Ontario has lost one of its leading citizens but it will forever benefit from the Iannuzzi legacy - a legacy of pride, purpose and tremendous public service.


Stephen Harper
Conservative Leader and Leader of the Opposition

On behalf of the Conservative Party of Canada, I pay tribute today to Daniel Andrew Iannuzzi, who passed away at the age of 70.
Mr. Iannuzzi was a proud and passionate Canadian. As the founder of the world's first multilingual television station, the Ethnic Press of Ontario and of the pan-Canadian Italian language newspaper, Corriere Canadese, he earned the highest respect and admiration in the Canadian media community.
His entrepreneurial spirit was an inspiration to all Canadians, and especially to those who came from abroad to make Canada their new home. As an effective promoter and champion of causes to new Canadians, Mr. Iannuzzi always led by example.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.


Greg Sorbara
Provincial Finance Minister

Canada has lost one of its outstanding media pioneers. But Dan Iannuzzi's impact on this country, and its cultural mosaic, will endure for years to come.
Fifty years ago when he launched Corriere Canadese he set the standard for third language journalism in his native country. In 1979 when he created multilingual television he gave a powerful new voice to Canadians of every cultural heritage.
The ideals and vision that inspired his life helped to define the Canadian agenda for half a century. Surely that is the mark of great citizenship.
Canadians of Italian heritage share, in a special way, the impact he has had on his country. He showed us the way to a stronger society for all Canadians.


Joe Cordiano
Provincial Development and Trade Minister

Mr. Iannuzzi personified the Corriere Canadese motto, "Fiercely Canadian and proudly Italian".
I had the pleasure of knowing Daniel for many years. He was an inspired and creative leader. In creating CFMT-TV, Mr. Iannuzzi helped Toronto build its reputation as one of the most dynamic multicultural cities in the world. His passion and accomplishments, including his founding of the Ethnic Press Association, has given voice and an important platform for discussion to those from all cultural heritages.
I will miss him as friend and as a truly gifted leader in our community.


Joe Volpe
Federal Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development

It pains me a lot. Not only because we've lost a pillar of the Italian community, one who understood how to promote the interests of people who are called to integrate in a constantly evolving society. It pains me because we've lost a friend of ours. I use these words because Dan Iannuzzi belonged to our community. His work, his genius, his vision are a part of our identity. He fed, nurtured and maximized this identity, also thanks to his collaborators. The work done by what we might call the "Iannuzzi team" gave personality and prestige to the Italian-Canadian community, not just in Toronto but across the whole country.
We had known each other for the past 22 years. During this long time, he always treated me with respect and friendship, on the personal as well as professional level.
My relationship with Dan was not limited to a political relationship between two people from the same riding. He gave me my first opportunities to express myself on the pages of Corriere Canadese, discussing my beliefs and debating my assumptions. He was also an able political strategist. I owe him much, also for giving me an opportunity to make my positions known through CFMT, and to learn, tackle and solve problems of my voters making use of Italian and English.
On a more personal level, I remember with fondness his sincere concern when a family member of mine fell ill. He was a source of relief and hope at a difficult time. Now we've lost him, and I can't say how sorry I am.
On behalf of my wife Mirella and my whole family, I offer the deepest condolences to the Iannuzzi family.


Howard Hampton
Leader Ontario NDP
Rosario Marchese
MPPTrinity Spadina

On behalf of the Ontario NDP, we wish to extend our sincere condolences on the death of Daniel Andrea Iannuzzi. Mr. Iannuzzi was a man ahead of his time. With the establishment of Corriere Canadese in 1954 and CFMT in 1979, Mr. Iannuzzi encouraged culture and diversity years before "multiculturalism" became a national motto.
His vision, leadership and enthusiasm for Toronto and Canada will truly be missed.


John Tory
Ontario PC Leader

Dan Iannuzzi was one of a kind. He was larger than life and so were his ideas. But he didn't just dream, he made his ideas come true. This newspaper is evidence of that as is OMNI television which he founded as CFMT. Both were a recognition by him of the growing diversity of our population and the need to ensure that everyone had their own way of keeping in touch - with the news, with their own traditions and with each other. This made him one of the most significant innovators when it came to building bridges between newer Canadians and those who had been here for generations.
I actually knew Dan first through politics. It was there that you saw his most important quality: his caring for people. It was with him always, as a businessman, as a community activist, in his family. That is why he leaves so many friends, myself among them.
Dan Iannuzzi was a great man and a great Canadian. We will miss him. I extend my sincere sympathy to his family and to his employees.


Marco Colombo
Italian Ambassador to Canada

I am deeply saddened by the passing of Dan Iannuzzi, a great protagonist of the Italian-Canadian community who was an example for everybody. With his 50-year successful work in the media industry, he served the needs of the numerous Italians and Canadians of Italian origin, enabling them - particularly through Corriere Canadese, a newspaper that I read every day and that maintains a flow of quality information on Italian, Canadian and international events - to keep alive their strong links with the language and culture of their country of origin even from Canada.
I wish to underscore how, with him, we've lost a person of great human qualities. I was lucky to make his acquaintance and meet him several times, and he fully deserved the great admiration and deep respect that he enjoyed throughout Canada.
In this day of sorrow, I wish to extend to his family - and to Corriere Canadese, which Dan Iannuzzi considered like a second, big family - my personal condolences as well as those of the whole Italian Embassy.


Luca Brofferio
Consul General of Italy in Toronto

This morning I was saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Dan Iannuzzi, and I wish to express my deepest regret and most heartfelt condolences.
Dan's death is a loss, professional as well as emotional, for the whole Italian community in Canada, not just in Toronto. Thanks to his active inventiveness and his innate entrepreneurial spirit, and to a very solid bond with his country of origin, Mr. Iannuzzi gave a fundamental contribution to the conservation of Italian culture, even in its most recent developments, which was running the risk of dispersing with time.
His most important (and, to him, most beloved) "creation" was undoubtedly Corriere Canadese, a formidable vehicle for knowledge, memory, and update. For over 50 years, by entering every day the houses of thousands of our fellow nationals who had immigrated here, it made them feel Italy close and sharing in their individual and collective experiences, despite the great distance - luckily, a distance that was only geographic and not sentimental. His intuition of expanding the reach of Corriere Canadese to encompass also Italians of more recent generations, by creating Tandem, was great, too; that new publication allowed - and still allows - the descendants of the original immigrants to look with a balanced and modern eye at today's Italy.
I remember one of the last times I met Dan Iannuzzi. It happened here at the Consulate, on the occasion of Italy's Republic Day, June 2. I called him on the podium to tell us the story of his experience as the publisher of a newspaper that, with determination and subtle intelligence, managed to succeed in Italian-Canadian society, taking roots in many hearts. That was a nice moment, quite intense, which I consider one of the most significant of my experience here in Toronto.
I'm writing... merely to say that we will all miss Dan Iannuzzi, for many reasons. This great community will miss him, as it saw him as an important reference.


Pal Di Iulio
Executive Director, Villa Charities

I have known and personally benefited from the late Dan Iannuzzi's first creation, Corriere Canadese, since the early 1960s. It has kept me informed and involved in local community and social events, sports and politics, and more importantly, connected to a country (Italy) that many of us left behind.
I have read almost every issue since then, and in addition to helping me retain and enhance my Italian language, it inspired me to live up to Corriere's motto of being "fiercely Canadian, proudly Italian".
In the late '70s, Dan continued to contribute to multiculturalism with his vision for a third language television station, CFMT (now OMNI). The realization of this station further served and benefited the Italian-Canadian community, as well as many additional groups, and made for a more tolerant Canada.
At the same time, the community rallied together to realize their first major project - Villa Colombo Home for the Aged - and together with the support and commitment of a few inspired leaders from the Italian media, particularly from Corriere Canadese and CFMT - Villa Colombo came into existence.
Whether Dan was raising funds for us through Corriere's sponsorship of the opening night of the film Love Story or putting Villa Colombo in the community's consciousness through the broadcasting of our "Mothers' Day Telethon", he was always there for us. And in a community that is dynamic and at times fickle, 50 years of success is quite a landmark! Dan truly survived the test of time.
I extend my sincere condolences, both personally and on behalf of Villa Charities, to the Iannuzzi family. Thank you for sharing him with us.
Grazie Dan.


Leonard Lombardi
President CHIN Radio/TV International

It was sad and shocking to hear of the news that Dan Iannuzzi has passed away. Dan will always be remembered as one of the greats who pioneered the ethnic press industry with the founding of the first daily Italian language newspaper, Corriere Canadese, 50 years ago in Toronto. It took great insight and courage to pursue vehicles of expression for the emerging Italian immigrants who came to Canada after the war. Dan saw the need to provide these new arrivals with hope and understanding of their new chosen land.
Corriere Canadese filled the void in so many lives and gave a view of Canadian society that welcomed and embraced new immigrants. Corriere Canadese has helped shape the development of the Italian community in Toronto, recorded its successes, championed countless causes and brought rightful recognition in the articles and stories of the many leaders who emerged throughout the years within the Italian community. So many owe a debt of gratitude to Dan who created an industry from humble beginnings and led the way through example by promoting and encouraging the development of the ethnic press for all multicultural communities to enjoy.
Throughout his life he dedicated his talent and enthusiasm to the people and things that brought him great joy; multicultural journalism. He has left a lasting legacy in Corriere Canadese and the many other cultural newspapers he established. But most importantly he gave opportunity to the many journalists within our multicultural communities to write about their heroes, views and life's challenges. He helped to shape Canada into the multicultural society that is all the envy in the world. And for this great contribution we thank him and we will miss him.


Angelo Infusino
Italian Trade Commissioner

I learned of the passing of dear Dan with great sorrow. I wish to present my most heartfelt condolences, as well as those of the staff of the Toronto office of ICE, to the Iannuzzi family and to the staff of Corriere Canadese.


Bev Oda
Conservative Heritage Critic

In the House of Commons Conservative Heritage Critic Bev Oda, rose to deliver a statement of condolence on the passing of Daniel A. Iannuzzi:
"Today I would like to pay tribute to Dan Iannuzzi, who passed away in Rome over the weekend.
"Dan Iannuzzi, a third generation Italian-Canadian, dedicated his entire life to international and multicultural media. He founded Corriere Canadese and the Ethnic Press Association of Ontario.
"I have known Dan for over 28 years, an inspiration to many over the years and a friend of my family. He was a man with deep passion and a vision for Canada. I worked with him when he fought for and launched CFMT-TV, the first multilingual television service in the world.
"Dan Iannuzzi was fiercely Canadian and proudly Italian, the masthead on his newspaper. The country has lost a champion and community leader with the passing of Daniel Andrew Iannuzzi."


Maurizio Bevilacqua
Member of Parliament

At Parliament Hill Maurizio Bevilacqua rose to deliver a statement of condolence on the passing of Daniel A. Iannuzzi:
" Mr. Speaker,
"I rise today to offer my deepest condolences and sympathies to family and friends on the passing of Daniel Andrew Iannuzzi.
"Mr. Iannuzzi, known to his friends as 'Dan', was an exceptional citizen. A third-generation Italian-Canadian, he grew up fluent in English, French and Italian.
"His presence extended well beyond the borders of this nation - his love was Canada.
"He was the founder of the world's first multilingual television station broadcasting in 24 languages.
"He was also the founder of the Ethnic Press Association of Ontario and of Canada's leading Italian language newspaper, Corriere Canadese.
"He is a member of the Order of Canada and a recipient of the Order of Ontario.
"Dan Iannuzzi was truly a bright light and beacon for multiculturalism. He understood the country, was a great agent for change - a man ahead of his times. Canada is a better place to live for all Canadians thanks to his great efforts. He made a significant difference.
"Grazie Dan! We will miss you. Your legacy lives on."


Nicola De Angelis
Bishop of Peterborough

I join the sorrow of the whole Italian-Canadian community and offer my most heartfelt condolences.
Great people who distinguished themselves serving their community, like Dan did, will be remembered forever.
May Dan rest in God's peace and joy.


Michael Di Biase
Mayor of Vaughan

It is with great sadness that we learned of the untimely passing, this past Saturday November 20th, in Rome, of Corriere Canadese Founder Daniel A. Iannuzzi.
Dan was a highly respected businessman, a pillar of our community and a generous humanitarian. His passion for his heritage and his fierce pride in his adopted homeland formed equal parts of the whole that he expressed through such creations as the respected publication he founded, the Corriere Canadese as well as through innumerable other projects .
For thousands of people, the Corriere Canadese represents a daily link to the land of their heritage, a way to communicate with each other in the language they or their forefathers were born to, and for the younger generation of readers, a way to learn about current issues facing today's Italy.
Dan Iannuzzi's passing has left a void, not just in the Italian Canadian community or in the Greater Toronto business community. We have lost a great Canadian, a visionary leader whose contribution to the rich fabric of our great nation will be felt for generations to come. A Canadian who showed us how to be fiercely proud of the country we call home while nurturing within us the passion for our roots.
Grazie, Dan, per averci regalato la tua passione per l'italianità e per averci dimostrato che è facile amare due paesi in parti uguali!
On behalf of all the citizens of Vaughan and all members of Vaughan Council, please accept our sincerest condolences for this great loss.


Alberto Di Giovanni
Director, Centro Scuola e Cultura Italiana; Councillor, CGIE; Delegate, CONI-Canada

The news of Dan Iannuzzi's sudden death left us deeply saddened and at the same time made us pause and reflect.
Iannuzzi had all the human, organizational, intellectual qualities of a community leader; with his vision and his initiatives, Dan Iannuzzi was a true leader, and now we've lost him.
We wish to remember dear Danny, the proponent of the first multicultural TV station and someone who was always present in our community's most important moments, especially for the contribution he gave to the community through his newspaper, Corriere Canadese. He always loved this newspaper, and led it in happy times and difficult times, always managing to keep this Italian-Canadian voice alive.
Impartial, serene in his judgment, Danny often sided with the underdog, and saw this as a duty for his newspaper.
He believed like few others in the importance to conserve and expand the Italian language and culture, always protecting the community's linguistic and cultural values. Thank you, Danny, for everything you did for our, for your community. Your loss opens a gap that will be very hard to fill.
My deepest condolences to the family and to the staff of Corriere Canadese.


Angelo Di Ianni
Mayor of Hamilton

Condolences to the family and to the staff of Corriere Canadese. A great Italian-Canadian, a Canadian giant has passed away.
Dan Iannuzzi's presence and his progressive ideas will always be with us.


Antonio Di Pietro
President of "Italia dei Valori"
I learned of the sudden death of dear friend Dan Iannuzzi with deep and sincere emotion. Despite the time passed since our last meeting, I still have a very vivid memory of his extraordinary figure and strong personality, and of the human empathy and deep respect that he knew how to raise right away.
His passing is a great loss, not only for his family, which I wish to express my most sincere and deeply felt condolences to, but also for all of Canada, for the City of Toronto and in particular for his beloved Italian-Canadian community, in the service of which he consecrated his whole life.
Despite being a third-generation Italian, in fact, Dan Iannuzzi had fully kept the essence of his Italian heritage and a genuine pride for his roots.
Strengthened by the values and principles derived from our history, culture and tradition, Dan Iannuzzi turned his life into a mission; from the pages of the glorious newspaper he founded, Corriere Canadese, he always fought in defense of the many Italians living in Toronto, working tirelessly to promote a healthy, clean image for our nationals in Canada.
Those who lived, even for a short time like I did, the sometimes tough experience of emigrating, know that nothing is so important as "feeling close to home".
This is the reason why Dan Iannuzzi's work will live forever: he was more than an illustrious and enlightened member of a community; with his newspaper, an unequalled reference point for the Italian-Canadian reality, he was daily in contact with thousands of "common" Italians.
This is what Dan Iannuzzi did for 50 years: he brought to the Italians of Toronto the flavours, tastes, joys, sorrows, and events of their faraway homeland, making them feel "closer to home".
About Dan Iannuzzi, rivers of words will flow, and I feel sure that every word of them will highlight his extraordinary talents. Personally, I wish to remember his selflessness, his feeling an integral part of a community that he devoted his dedication and love to, and which will undoubtedly remember him.


Julian Fantino
Chief of the Toronto Police Service

First of all, Dan was a friend of mine, a friend who made people more comfortable with his vision of the diversity of our country. Personally and professionally he played a very important role in helping me and the Police build better relations with the media.
His death came as a shock, and he will be sorely missed. In a sunny November day, receiving such news leaves us upset and saddened.
My heartfelt condolences to his family: our thoughts and prayers go to them in such a difficult moment.


Ted Rogers
President and CEO of Rogers Group

Dan Iannuzzi was a builder, a pioneer and a great leader. He was deeply committed both to his own Italian roots and to Canada and he used his many talents to ensure others could stay in touch with their roots and establish a deep bond with Canada.
The founding of CFMT (now OMNI Television) will always be one of the great innovations in Canadian broadcasting history. We were privileged to be his partner in that enterprise and to learn so much from him about the magnificent diversity of our community and our country.
On behalf of my wife Loretta and the Rogers family, as well as the extended Rogers Communications family, I extend my sincere sympathy to the Iannuzzi family and to Dan's colleagues. I salute him for his vision, his determination, his many accomplishments and his humanity.


Giorgio Riondino
Chief of Staff of Italy's Prime Minister's Office

I was supposed to meet him today. Elena [Caprile] called to tell me that the meeting had become physically impossible. Like often in these moments, many years of acquaintance and friendship flashed through my mind, but one in particular: the memory of the fact that it was he who made me bridge the distance between Italy and Canada. First by letting me know about the Canadian reality and compare it with Italy, also through Corriere Canadese; then with the interviews to several Italian PMs, the organization of Toronto's G7 in 1987 (when Ciriaco De Mita was Prime Minister and Giulio Andreotti was Foreign Minister); and then, a bit at a time, by leading me to explore the world of Italian emigration, to the point where I now have an Italian-Canadian granddaughter.
Dan's great, meritorious work was precisely of acting as a bridge between these two shores, these two cultures, at a time when that was not fashionable or even recognized.
My last goodbye to Dan, a hug to his wife Elena and son Michael, and my condolences to the whole Corriere Canadese family.

Publication Date: 2004-11-28
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=4657